Wootton Community & Sports Centre Consultation Report - January 2018
The report outlines the findings of a consultation conducted to identify the needs and demands of the community regarding the Wootton Community & Sports Centre. It covers aspects such as existing facility usage, frequency of use, meeting user needs, reasons for non-usage, and suggestions for improvement. The report highlights the importance of sustaining the library provision, the frequency of center visits, and the desire for enhancements to better cater to users' needs.
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Wootton Community & Sports Centre Consultation Report January 2018
Contents Background identifying need and demand Existing Facilities Used Frequency of Use Meeting the Needs of Users Reasons for not using the Community and Sports Centre Additional Facilities and Services Simpson Manor Conclusions Next Steps
Background Identifying Need and Demand Methodology resident questionnaire and user group consultation Hand delivery to 3,014 households within the Parish Through the Parish Council Articles within the local Pulse magazine. A series of drop-in sessions at the Community Centre enabling people to call-in, In total, 269 people responded to the resident questionnaire, which registers a response rate of 8.3%.
Existing Facilities Used The Centre is most commonly used for its adjacent library facilities, with 44.9% of respondents using it for this purpose Demonstrates the necessity of sustaining a library provision in Wootton. Source: Survey Monkey (89 respondents skipped this question) The rest of the responses are shared and balanced across most of the categories
Frequency of Use The largest proportion of residents (33.9%) frequent the Centre on a weekly basis. 15.6% of respondents don t use the Centre very often A further 4.4% don t use the Centre at all. A substantial 13.9% of respondents use the Centre more than once a week. The most popular time amongst respondents to attend the Centre is a weekday afternoon, accumulating 23.2% of visitors. Source: Survey Monkey (86 respondents skipped this question) 53.6% use the hall on weekdays whereas only 46.4% use it on the weekends.
Meeting the Needs of Users Nearly half of respondents (c.49.7%) considered the Centre to sufficiently meet their needs. The remaining 50.3% who thought that it did not meet their needs used the question as a forum to express their recommendations and suggestions for future change. Would welcome a more family-orientated and social setting, e.g. modern caf and less office, bar and event room feel to the facilities More changing facilities, possibly bigger bar and restaurant, bigger library and toddler events It must have a good food option, even if just snacks. Could do with more function rooms to hire as very difficult trying to book The bar should be open more and offer food in the evenings when open. It was a huge mistake ending the sky subscription
Meeting the Needs of Users Many references to changes to the Centre that have determined restrictions on the Jubilee Bar, or the minimal social offer outside of programmed classes. Also frustration amongst those who want to use the Centre about the lack of availability. A caf -type additional space could meet these needs. A high frequency of the comments concerned the library in particular Lots of positive responses (c.49.7%). The cleanliness and upkeep of the Centre is regularly commended, and the current facilities are regarded as fully functional. Always appears to be clean and tidy, good to see local groups using the centre Good facilities and nice food, good value for money, more knowledge of available classes/courses run at the centre would be great
Reasons for not using the Community and Sports Centre 130 comments were made Many of the responses concerned a lack of awareness about facilities and activities on Others noted that there was nothing of interest to them. One of the Centre s primary obstacles is perception most respondents here feel it is either simply sports-orientated or not inviting to them personally.
Additional Facilities and Services With over 230 people responding to this question, the Centre s future facilities and services are shown to be important to respondents. The addition of a caf (52.4%) and a community library (44.4%) are the overwhelmingly favoured options amongst respondents. Having a caf that was appealing for afternoon/evening/weekend catch ups would draw people up.Also having family spaces, maybe an indoor play centre with mums area too Source: Survey Money (16 respondents skipped this question)
Additional Facilities and Services The choices are ranked in their entirety as follows: 1. Caf (52.4%) 2. Community Library (44.4%) 3. Additional fitness/ gym/ sports facilities (30.6%) 4. Outside/ takeaway access to a caf (21.8%) 5. Toilets with outside access (20.2%) 6. Police Office (19.4%) 7. Wi-fi/ Broadband facilities (16.5%) 8. Jubilee Bar extended opening hours (14.1%) 9. Additional car parking (11.3%) 10. Community access to computers (9.3%) The rest are: More toilets (8.5%), Improved kitchen facilities (8.1%), Additional rooms for hire (6.9%), Improved reception area (5.6%).
Simpson Manor The two overwhelmingly favoured options for Simpson Manor are to create a wildlife/ nature area and to build a children s play area. Many of the additional comments reflect this, and refer to the need to respect the residents with an option that wouldn t cause local disruption and draw unwanted attention. Source: Survey Money (15 respondents skipped this question) 31.3% considered either no development with general maintenance or a general open space as their preferred option
Simpson Manor Some comments exemplify the popularity of the two dominant choices Half a children s play area the rest to be enclosed/fenced off so dogs can be let off in safety Just a pretty little pocket park that s well kept. Too much green space is being taken over it would be nice to see an area for the kids and also the younger population, have seen them hanging around the street corners in the summer with nowhere to go it would be good to see some play equipment and a path around the outside edge of it, which encourages all-year use pf the space for dog-walking, fitness, jogging etc Simpson Manor Residents Responses via open question and use of postcodes Some concerns are expressed about money which is intended for Simpson Manor being used elsewhere. However, 45.2% of respondents selected other but the majority of these didn t indicate an alternative land use option.
Conclusions There is a strong desire for a social community space with a broad remit encompassing both caf and library facilities. The caf was the most overwhelmingly popular proposed improvement, and would be used by parents, childminders, sports teams and most class attendees before/ after their event. A caf would help to address the lack of social meeting spaces in Wootton. Most respondents wanted to see the library service incorporated in some way into any proposed extension. Minimal use outside of the Centre s scheduled programmes and classes was frequently highlighted as an issue throughout the consultation. There is a clear desire amongst the community to be more involved and become more aware of what services and facilities are offered.
Conclusions The consultation process suggests that if improvements were made to the Centre, local residents would use the services more frequently. Additional social space would encourage residents to use the Centre in a wider capacity outside of the scheduled sessions. A flexible space would complement the main hall and Jubilee Bar as a more variable hire space that doesn t have the limitations of a bar setting. With additional space, there would be an opportunity for more classes on weekday evenings and at the weekend, with a significantly more respondents saying they would use the hall at these times Overwhelmingly the most popular choices for the land at Simpson Manor for all residents of Wootton is the inclusion of a children s play area as well as the provision of a wildlife/ nature area. Any developments must respect the surrounding area and ensure that they are not detrimental to residents.
Next Steps 1 Appoint Project Managers/ Quantity Surveyors 2. Continue with consultation on proposals 3. Review how events and activities at the centre are publicised 4. Review pricing policies to ensure competitiveness
